The Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen have released footage showing crew members from the Eternity C cargo ship, which they sank earlier this month in the Red Sea amid a renewed wave of maritime attacks linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
In a video published Monday, the Huthis claimed to have “rescued” the sailors and showed 10 of them—reportedly pulled from the sea wearing life jackets—after the attack. Most of the crew are believed to be Filipino.
“Eleven crew members were rescued at sea, including two injured who were provided with medical care,” the rebels said in an official statement. They also confirmed that one deceased crew member was found on board and taken to a hospital morgue before the vessel sank.
The European Union’s Operation Aspides task force told AFP that 15 out of 25 crew members remain unaccounted for, including four presumed dead.
Among those shown in the Huthi video was a man identified as the ship’s Russian electrician, seen in a hospital bed speaking English. EU sources had earlier confirmed that a Russian crew member lost a leg during the attack.
In a concerning move, the rebels filmed the captive crew reciting statements about the ship’s destination—claiming it was bound for the Israeli port of Eilat—and ended the video with nine of the men saying in chorus, “We are sorry, Palestinians.”
Rights groups and international authorities have strongly condemned the rebels’ actions. Human Rights Watch said last week that the detainment of the crew may constitute unlawful hostage-taking and warned that targeting civilian shipping lanes could amount to war crimes. The U.S. government has echoed this concern, accusing the Huthis of kidnapping the missing crew.
This isn’t the first time the group has held foreign seafarers. In January, the Huthis released the Galaxy Leader’s mostly Filipino crew after more than a year in captivity.
Despite a truce deal signed in May intended to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea, the rebels declared on Sunday that they would continue targeting vessels affiliated with companies doing business with Israeli ports.
